One Hearing Aid or Two: What Do You Need and How Would You Know

When it comes to making the decision to be fitted for hearing aids, you may be wondering, “Can​ I get by with wearing a hearing aid in just one ear?”

Let’s take a look at when you should consider getting two hearing aids and when you should consider just getting one.

Temporary Versus Permanent Hearing Loss

It’s important to first determine whether your hearing loss is temporary or permanent. This can be answered by a qualified professional following a thorough examination. If your hearing loss is attributable to any of the following situations, it’s likely temporary.

Wax buildup that can be remedied in a clinical setting

Prescription medications with a side effect of partial loss of hearing in one or both ears

Head cold, ear infection or other illness

Exposure to loud sounds

If the hearing loss is temporary, your doctor can address ways to work with this prognosis. But if you’re hearing loss is permanent, you’ll want to consider hearing aids. Now the question becomes, one hearing or two?

When Should I Consider Getting Two Hearing Aids?

Hearing aids are an investment, so It’s tempting to purchase just one and save the expense of a second device. You might want to reconsider, though. There are benefits to getting a hearing aid for each ear, especially if you have some hearing loss in both such as:

Better clarity and alertness that having two functional ears gives you

Research suggests that hearing well in both ears lets your brain distinguish between important auditory input and useless background noise

Two hearing aids help you locate where sound comes from so you can fully tune into the message

Offers a sense of clarity through balancing incoming stimuli

Lowers the risk of developing tinnitus

Decreases the chance of auditory deprivation, in other words, there is a tendency for the function of an unaided ear to decline

What Is Single-Sided Hearing Loss?

Single-sided, or unilateral, hearing loss occurs when you can hear well in one ear and have difficulty in the other.

When Should I Consider Getting One Hearing Aid?

The three primary reasons to purchase just one hearing aid is that you have single-sided hearing loss, you’re completely and irreversibly deaf in one ear or you have age-induced cognitive delays.

Assuming you do have some hearing loss in just one ear, you won’t need a hearing aid in your other one. This is also true if you are permanently deaf in the one ear, there is no point in purchasing a second hearing aid. These two situations will not improve with the addition of a second hearing aid.

If you are a person over the age of 85 and have cognitive delays, choosing to wear two hearing aids might create excess auditory stimuli, enough that it becomes overwhelming and confusing. You might find you struggle to separate speech patterns from other speech or background noise, as well.

The final reason to choose only one hearing aid is it’s just too big of a financial burden if you do try to buy two. Make sure you exhaust all of your options first, though, before settling for just the one hearing-assistance device. Look to social services and your insurance company for help.

Choosing The Right Hearing Aid For You

Of course, you want what’s best for your ears, so you can continue to participate in all the activities you love. For more information on hearing health, check us out today!